SANAA, Yemen – Fighting between Yemen’s internationally recognized government and the Iran-aligned Houthi movement has intensified, with the Houthis expanding attacks into southern Saudi Arabia after making significant gains along Yemen’s Red Sea coast.
The latest escalation follows a rapid Houthi advance toward the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, one of the world’s most strategically important maritime passages. Houthi forces have seized the port city of Mokha and Perim Island, also known as Mayun, while government forces have launched counterattacks.
The fighting represents the most serious deterioration in Yemen’s conflict since a United Nations-brokered truce halted large-scale fighting in 2022. Thousands of people have been displaced as the opposing forces battle across several fronts.
Houthi attacks reach southern Saudi Arabia
The Houthis have claimed responsibility for missile and drone attacks against targets in Saudi Arabia, including a military base in Sharurah.
Saudi authorities reported injuries and property damage from at least some of the attacks. Earlier this month, Houthi strikes on southern Saudi cities and energy facilities wounded 73 people, according to Saudi authorities, while operations at several energy installations were temporarily affected.
The attacks have included areas around Abha, Jizan, Najran and Khamis Mushait. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree has described the strikes as retaliation for Saudi military operations against Houthi positions in Yemen.
Saudi Arabia has condemned the attacks and continued military operations against the Houthis.
The United Nations has also expressed concern about the cross-border attacks, particularly their impact on civilians and energy infrastructure.
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Fighting is spreading along the Red Sea coast
The latest battlefield changes have given the Houthis control over additional territory approaching the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
The group captured Mokha, a strategically located port city, before taking Perim Island in the middle of the strait. Government forces also withdrew from Dhubab, according to conflict monitoring by the Council on Foreign Relations.
The developments are significant because the Bab el-Mandeb connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and is a major route for commercial shipping and energy transportation.
Yemeni government forces have responded with airstrikes and counteroffensives aimed at stopping further Houthi advances. The government has also vowed to regroup and recover territory lost during the recent fighting.
Saudi Arabia faces a wider security threat
The escalation has created a difficult position for Riyadh.
Saudi Arabia has supported Yemen’s internationally recognized government and has conducted military operations against the Houthis, but the renewed conflict risks drawing the kingdom deeper into a war it has sought to move away from since the 2022 truce.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has sought U.S. assistance in responding to the Houthi threat, according to reporting cited by Reuters. Washington has discussed intelligence and targeting support but has not agreed to launch direct strikes against the Houthis.
The attacks also coincide with pressure on Saudi energy infrastructure. A major Saudi oil pipeline has been disrupted following drone attacks, adding another vulnerability to regional energy supply.
Humanitarian pressure is mounting
The renewed fighting is also worsening conditions for civilians inside Yemen.
More than 82,000 people have been displaced since the beginning of September, according to figures cited in current reporting, while aid agencies are dealing with shortages of shelter and other basic necessities.
The conflict has already produced one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises. A new round of fighting risks extending displacement and disrupting access to food, medical care and other essential services.
The humanitarian consequences are particularly serious as fighting moves across densely populated areas and strategic coastal territory.
The Red Sea remains at risk
The Houthi advance has also increased concern over maritime security.
Control of territory near the Bab el-Mandeb gives the movement greater proximity to one of the principal routes connecting the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. Any sustained disruption could affect commercial shipping and energy movements between the Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean.
The immediate conflict, however, remains centered on the struggle between the Houthis and Yemen’s internationally recognized government.
Government forces are attempting to halt the Houthi advance, while the Houthis have demonstrated that they can extend the fighting beyond Yemen’s borders.
For Saudi Arabia, the question now is how far the renewed Houthi offensive will spread — and whether the kingdom can contain the threat without becoming drawn back into a prolonged Yemen war.
Reporting Credit: Yemen’s internationally recognized government — military and political statements on the fighting; Saudi authorities — information on cross-border attacks and civilian and infrastructure impacts; United Nations — humanitarian and civilian-impact information; International Organization for Migration — displacement information; Council on Foreign Relations — documented conflict developments.
